Following a three year absence due to COVID-19, the Côte Saint-Luc Golf Classic returned on August 9 to Meadowbrook Golf Course and it was a huge success.
I was pleased to co-chair this 41st annual event with Councillor Dida Berku and Mannie Young. Dida has been a champion on keeping Meadowbrook green for decades. Mannie, the former chair of the Men’s Club and a retired pharmacist, added an entire new dimension to this program with his wealth of contacts and fundraising abilities – no to mention his sense of humour.
A few years ago, we introduced the Parks and Recreation Bursary Fund to help disadvantaged families and for children who have special needs in Côte Saint-Luc who cannot afford to register their children in seasonal programs and activities operated by our city. It was created by myself and Harold Cammy, with the support of McDonald’s franchisee Pierre Brunet.
This year, thanks principally to Mannie and event coordinator Anisa Cameron, we exceeded expectations. New corporate sponsors were brought in and we raised over $9,000 for our charity.
Former City Councillors Glenn J. Nashen and Sam Goldbloom were this year’s honorees.
Glenn served on city council for more than 25 years. He was a key player in the area of public safety, having launched the Volunteer Citizens on Patrol (VCOPs) and participating as an active member of the Emergency Medical Services. Sam was a councillor for 12 years and co-chaired the Golf Classic with me on many occasions. Glenn's parents, George, 99, and Phyllis, 95, were on hand. Irving Leiner also paid tribute to the late Joe Presser, who was our honouree in 2018. His wife Isabel and daughter Janet joined us. I miss Joe terribly!
See this video produced by Mayor Brownstein.
First off, the golf day was a lot of fun. There was a slight drizzle as we hit the links yet very comfortable temperatures. I had the pleasure of being part of a foursome with Nashen, D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum and IGA Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre operator Peter Lipari, who has quite the swing.
Our committee, which also included Anthony Sulpizio and Moe Giobbi, began meeting by Zoom last winter and we agreed at that point to hold our luncheon outdoors in Ashkelon Gardens behind City Hall. We did not know where we’d be with COVID-19 and I do not think any of us expected a seventh wave. Box lunches were prepared by Pizza Pita and this turned out to be an ideal venue, made even better with the husband and wife singing duo -Qué Sera- of Merv “Harvey Keitel-look-alike” Middling and Joanne Cutler. They now perform to benefit the Harvey Levine Cancer Fund, associated with the Cedar Cancer Centre of the MUHC. There is no charge for their performances, however, any donations received will be given entirely towards cancer research in hopes that one day we will find a cure. Harvey was the director of B’nai Brith Canada in Quebec, who left us more than a year ago. It was nice to see his widow, Doreen, on hand as the Que Sera roadie. She even showed off some of her dancing moves. Their performance was very well received.
Thanks to Pierre Brunet and his McDonald’s team for welcoming all of the golfers with coffee, danish, muffins and yogurt tubes and to our other sponsors: Sol and Anna Zuckerman; RBC Wealth Management (Ted Kalil and John Kalaydjian); ReBox – Brian Young; Classique Furniture (Jordan Biberkraut); Elm Ridge, Islesmere/Club Link, Le Diamant; IGA (Peter Lipari); Pierre Brunet and McDonald’s (with honourable mention to Roberto Del Papa who set it up); TCBY (Lenny Rosenberg); Delmar (Harrison Cutler); Jean Coutu Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre (Alex Darian); Pharmaprix Quartier Cavendish (David Banon, with special mention to Ian Macdonald, who set the whole thing up), 5 Minute Coffee Break (Steve Stein) and Dollarama. We also had plenty of door prizes and a silent auction, offering foursomes to the four top private golf clubs mentioned.
As for the trophy presentations, here were the winners.
Longest Drive:
Men’s – Peter Lipari
Women’s – Joan Zafran
Closest to the Pin:
Men’s – Councillor Mitch Kujavsky
Women’s – Joan Zafran
“Most Honest (highest score)” – Arnie Leder
Lowest Score – Harrison Cutler
Best Dressed (Male) – Fred Schacter
Best Dressed (Female)– Janine West
Thanks to everyone who made this event so special. Bravo Mannie for introducing the new awards. I can’t wait for next year!
